Transport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The transport system of the Democratic Republic of the Congo includes formal institutions and extensive informal practices. Responsible bodies include, among others, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Disenclavement (Ministère des Transports, Voies de Communication et Désenclavement), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works (Ministère des Infrastructures et Travaux Publics), the infrastructure unit (Cellule Infrastructures), the national development coordination body (CONADEP), the tax administration (DGI), the civil aviation authority (RVA), the National Railway Company of the Congo (SNCC) and the transport and port company (SCTP), as well as provincial and city authorities. Private and informal providers fill gaps that the formal system does not cover in many places. According to the cited planning figures, roads carry about 92% of freight traffic and 91% of passenger traffic. Based on World Bank data from 2022, around 35% of national roads were rated good or fair. Many connections therefore depend on rain, erosion, flooding, construction work and the security situation. On paper, the road network covers about 152,400 km, of which approximately 5,065 km are paved. RN1 forms a central road connection from Banana via Matadi, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kasumbalesa to Sakania. However, there is no continuous land connection between many western and eastern parts of the country. In Kinshasa, the public bus operator (Transco) runs buses alongside minibuses and services including the paratransit service (Esprit de Vie), the paratransit service (Esprit de Mort) and the yellow taxi service (Taxi Jaune). Informal motorcycle taxis and walking remain indispensable for many everyday journeys. No reliable nationwide statistic on the distribution of transport modes is available; data from Kinshasa therefore cannot automatically be applied to the whole country. Railways mainly serve individual corridors and freight transport. The southern network of SNCC covers approximately 3,641 km, while the SCTP connection between Matadi and Kinshasa covers about 366 km. The approximately 1,026 km Chemins de Fer des Uélé has been out of service since the early 2000s. Weak infrastructure, limited rolling stock, slow journeys and unreliable departures restrict passenger transport. Navigable rivers and lakes together cover approximately 16,238 km. The Congo River and its tributaries provide connections, including between Kinshasa and Brazzaville, Kinshasa and Kisangani, and Goma and Bukavu. Many journeys are operated by small private or informal providers. River signalling is partly unreliable, so pilots may be required; night travel cannot be reliably assumed. Water levels, season, the security situation, damaged landing stages and a lack of cranes change journey times and prices. In 2016, approximately 2,719,000 passengers and a freight share of 5.4% were reported for river transport. Air transport is a functional alternative when land or water connections are missing or unsafe. The civil aviation authority (Régie des Voies Aériennes, RVA) is responsible, among other things, for air traffic control, air transport, aviation safety and passenger information. Routes, flight frequencies and prices depend on the particular company, airport and security environment; there is no stable nationwide fare list. Anyone using a vehicle needs registration and a driving licence. The tax administration (Direction Générale des Impôts, DGI) is involved in vehicle registration and proof of registration. The national driving licence body (Commission Nationale de Délivrance des Permis de Conduire, CONADEP) is responsible for driving licences nationally; responsible commissions exist at provincial and city level. Formal access includes theoretical and practical examinations, and the minimum age is 18. A biometric driving licence is planned but has not been established as a completed nationwide standard. The law Loi 78/022 of 30 August 1978 regulates traffic signs, light signals and road markings. The Democratic Republic of the Congo drives on the right. The road brigade (Brigade routière) and the gendarmerie may penalize dangerous parking, overloading, driving under the influence of alcohol and unsafe passenger transport, among other offences; vehicles may also be immobilized and towed to a storage facility. The WHO road-safety indicator for 2021 was 16.3 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Long-distance travel combines road, water, rail and air depending on the connection. A permanently operational road and railway bridge between Kinshasa and Brazzaville has not been established. An access-road project supported by the African Development Bank had a planned completion date of 2027 and was not yet a current connection. There is no reliable national price table: fares depend on route, mode of transport, provider, season, security situation, taxes and inspections. A boat round trip between Kinshasa and Kisangani took about 80 days according to an indicative CPSD figure from 2016. In a project-specific example, the journey Kinshasa–Kenge–Kikwit–Batshamba took about six hours; this cannot be used to derive a nationwide journey time. The strong dependence on roads causes traffic jams, dust, fuel emissions and noise. Rain, erosion, flooding, low water levels and insecurity affect the resilience of the entire transport system. For Kinshasa, technical assistance in fiscal year 2025 targets climate-resilient and more sustainable urban transport; a current national balance of transport emissions has not been established. The figures cited come from different survey years and therefore do not consistently describe the current situation.